Freda Payne; Valentines is for Lovers singing Ella Fitzgerald

Freda Payne is best known for her 1970 hit from Invictus Records, "Band of Gold," written by the founders of Invictus, the famed Motown hit team, Holland-Dozier-Holland (Lamont Dozier and brothers Brian and Eddie Holland).                              
                                                
But she began her career as a jazz singer in the early to mid-1960s. One of her biggest influences during that time was one of jazz's greatest vocalists, Ella Fitzgerald. Payne references other inspirations, but claims "Ella was the one I felt most attached to." So it's fitting that some 60 years later,                                 
                                           
Payne pays tribute to the greats, Ella Fitzgerald,  Nina Simone, Carmen McRae and many more. 
                                               
Payne is a delightful storyteller, cluing us in on Ella's early forays on the stage–including her appearance at the Apollo Theater's amateur night, where she had intended to dance, but ended up singing and winning that night–and being discovered by big band leader Chick Webb, the night was mostly about the songs Ella sang. With an uber-tight trio of musicians (Larry Dunlap; bassist Gary Brown; and drummer Leon Joyce, Jr.) are on board to keep the mood swinging from start to finish.    

Quote by Patrick Thomas                    
Payne's love for the Queens of Jazz is evident in every moment of her performance.  

Larry Dunlap 
Pianist, composer and arranger Larry Dunlap has a multifaceted career that includes extensive work in the fields of jazz, classical and popular music.  Since the early 1980s Larry has been pianist in North America with the British singer Dame Cleo Laine and her musician husband Sir John Dankworth. His past work has seen him appearing and/or recording with jazz vocalists Mark Murphy, Sheila Jordan, Ernestine Anderson and Joe Williams as well as instrumentalists Gerry Mulligan, Art Farmer, Ralph Towner, Ernie Watts, Bud Shank and Larry Coryell, to name a few. In the pop music field Larry has toured with The Pointer Sisters, Country Joe McDonald, and others.           
                                          
Please join Marin Jazz and The Lark Theatre this Valentines day SAT Feb 14th for a special night.  

On Thursday, February 26, legendary vocalist Freda Payne takes the stage at the iconic Vibrato Grill Jazz Club in Bel Air, California, for an unforgettable evening titled “Freda Payne Sings All That Jazz and More.”
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Set in one of Los Angeles’ most intimate and celebrated jazz rooms, the performance promises a night of elegance, storytelling, and musical mastery. With a career that spans jazz, pop, soul, and Broadway, Freda Payne brings a lifetime of artistry to every song she sings. Audiences can expect inspired interpretations of jazz standards, sophisticated arrangements, and a few delightful surprises drawn from her remarkable and genre-defying repertoire.
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Serving as Musical Director for the evening is acclaimed pianist and arranger Josh Nelson, whose sensitivity, swing, and deep understanding of the jazz tradition make him the perfect collaborator. Together, Payne and Nelson create a musical dialogue that is both heartfelt and exhilarating, blending classic jazz stylings with contemporary flair.

Vibrato Jazz Club—founded by the late Chuck Mangione—is renowned for its world-class acoustics and upscale yet welcoming atmosphere. It is the ideal setting for Freda Payne’s warm, expressive voice and magnetic stage presence, offering audiences a rare chance to experience a true music legend up close.

Whether you are a longtime admirer or discovering her live for the first time, “Freda Payne Sings All That Jazz and More” is an evening not to be missed—an intimate celebration of jazz, artistry, and timeless song.

One night only. One legendary voice. An unforgettable jazz experience.